Dyson is one of the UK's most famous manufacturing companies, specialising in bagless vacuum cleaners and dryers. If you need to find an efficient vacuum or you want to invest in a top of the range hair dryer, Dyson is the company to visit.
Dyson was founded in 1991 by the inventor James Dyson. In the 1980s, Dyson had encountered frustration when using conventional vacuum cleaners, finding that their bags became clogged up, compromising their suction power. In response, he came up with a new design that relied upon a centrifugal "Cyclone" to generate suction. Eventually, he attracted funding to put his ideas into practice, and within 10 years his DC01 design had captured around half of the UK vacuum cleaner market and cyclone-based designs were here to stay.
The core of Dyson's business remains its selection of vacuum cleaners like the Dyson Hoover, which are used on domestic settings and by professional cleaning companies. Their hand-held vacuum cleaners are also commonly used to reach hard-to-access corners of the home such as gaps between cupboards or underneath beds.
In addition to its famous cyclonic vacuum cleaners, Dyson also produces hair dryers that are becoming more and more popular with ordinary consumers, professional stylists and hotel chains due to their low noise levels and reliability.
Dyson AirBlade dryers have also become a common site in toilets across the UK due to the perception that they are more energy efficient and more hygienic than ordinary hand dryers.
The company also manufactures air treatment products like humidifiers, purifiers, fans and heaters, which are a good option for people who require steady temperatures and clean air for medical reasons.
The range of products available from Dyson includes the following categories:
Cordless vacuum cleaners – Both the Dyson V6 and the Dyson V8 are cordless models of vacuum cleaner and represent a step forwards in terms of convenience and ease of use:
The V6 – Comes in four varieties, all of which are designed to be hand-held. The Absolute is the most powerful of the four, offering 150% more suction power, while the Total Clean offers 75% more power. All varieties can be fitted with direct-drive cleaner heads to deep clean carpets and hard floor cleaner heads to glide across smooth surfaces, and the attachable wand provides extra range. They can be emptied at the press of a button, contain 20 minutes of cleaning power at full charge and can be put into "Max mode" for 6 minutes of intense power if required.
The V7 – With 75% more power than the V6, the Dyson V7 uses a smart direct-drive motor head to deliver powerful suction and deeply clean carpet, removing pet hair and ground-in dirt. The V7 has also been engineered to reduce volume of the vacuum whilst still providing powerful suction, with max power mode providing 6 minutes of higher suction for more difficult clean-up tasks. Using fade-free Lithium-ion batteries, the V7 is able to deliver up to 30 minutes of suction and with hygienic bin emptying, there's no need to touch the dirt after you've cleaned.
The V8 – An updated version of the V6, offering twice as much suction as the V6 Absolute. Also includes handy wand and cleaner head attachments, and has been finely balanced to make it more comfortable to clean corners and ceilings.
Both the V6 and the V8 come in an "Animal" variety which has been specifically engineered to deal with pet hair. It features a special attachment and powerful motor to generate the extra suction needed to clean fur and hair from carpets
and smooth surfaces alike.
The V10 – The Dyson Cyclone V10 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner makes your life easier by sucking up dust, pollen, and bacteria, leaving you with a cleaner home. Powered by the latest V10 digital motor, the V10 removes 25% more dust than the previous Dyson V8 model, resulting in a more thorough clean on all types of floors. With a battery that lasts up to 60 minutes, you'll easily be able to get a good cleaning session in before it needs a charge. The V10 also has a larger capacity bin, meaning less stopping to empty.
Robot vacuum cleaners – The Dyson 360 eye is one of the most advanced robot vacuum cleaners on the market. It is designed to be left alone to clean the floor without any input from the owner, calculating the most efficient cleaning path as it goes. It can also be controlled remotely using a smartphone app, allowing the owner to start cleaning before they get home from work. It will even head back to its docking station when it needs to charge.
Upright vacuums – The best-selling part of the Dyson vacuum range, their upright models include:
The Cinetic Big Ball – The most powerful upright available from Dyson, the Big Ball requires no filters and hardly ever loses suction power. It also filters air incredibly efficiently, expelling far less dust than any comparable model.
DC41Mk2 – A slightly less powerful version of the Cinetic Big Ball. As with its more powerful cousin, it uses a ball system to give it a wider range of motion, allowing the user to position it easily with the wrist alone.
DC40 – The least powerful of the Big Ball range, the DC40 is just as manoeuvrable, lightweight and capable of deep cleaning carpets and ceilings alike.
Small Ball models – Smaller upright vacuums with a smaller ball that can be lifted with ease. Retractable wands make it even smaller and more space efficient.
Cylinder vacuums – Instead of placing the cyclone and container on the spine of the vacuum, cylinder models keep everything in a unit close to the floor. Dyson's Cinetic Big Ball and DC39 Multi Floor cylinder models have the same advanced filters as their upright models, just with a different layout which might suit some users better.
Along with upright, cordless and robot vacuum cleaners, Dyson also manufactures plenty of other handy products that are regularly featured on the hotukdeals listings. These include:
Hair Dryers – The Dyson Supersonic is a revolutionary new hair dryer design. Radically departing from conventional designs, it consists of a handle and a ring-shaped nozzle that blows warm air onto the user's hair. Using a Dyson V9 motor, the Supersonic blows air six times as quickly as conventional dryers, is extremely quiet and one third as heavy.
Air Treatment – Includes a range of different household products to clean air and regulate temperature, including hot and cool purifiers, no-blade fans, heaters with jet focus control and humidifiers.
Lighting – Dyson offer the cross-shaped Csys table lamp, which allows the user to train 8 LEDs on their computer or documents, creating a 648 lux light source. Also features the C-Beam suspension lights.
Hand dryers – Includes Dyson's popular AirBlade technology, which creates a 430-mph jet of air and reduces energy costs by 80% compared to conventional hand dryers. AirBlades come in a variety of different sizes, with large models for restaurants and hotels, and smaller wall-mounted varieties that could be used in the home. There are also tap-mounted models that can be integrated into modern bathrooms, providing a hygienic alternative to towels.
The vast majority of customers reading this buyers guide will be looking for the right Dyson vacuum cleaner, so how can you choose the ideal model for your needs? Dyson cleaners aren't the cheapest on the market, so picking the right variety is essential. Here's what you need to bear in mind when you make your decision.
The first thing to do is to establish whether you need to upgrade your existing vacuum cleaner. If you have an older Dyson or you aren't sure which model you are currently using, find the device's serial number. Now, give Dyson a call on 0800 9540154 or send them an e-mail askdyson@dyson.co.uk, and they will let you know which version you have.
If you have a more recent model, there may not be much point in upgrading just yet, unless you want to change from cabled to cordless. If that's the case, read on.
You'll need to choose between cordless and cabled vacuum cleaners. Cordless models like the V6 and V8 are great for reaching awkward spots and dealing quickly with minor spills. If you just want a small vacuum for your kitchen or living room that packs away nice and compactly, a cordless model will be perfect.
However, despite their impressive motors, cordless Dysons won't be suitable for large rooms, especially with thick carpets (and pets leaving their hair all over them). If you need to clean a large household space, go for a cabled model.
If you do go for a cabled model, should you choose a cylinder or an upright variety? The differences between the two can be substantial. For example, Dyson's cylinders are slightly quieter, are more suited to dealing with staircases and are lighter than upright models when fully loaded.
Upright Dysons tend to be much better adapted to moving across large flat floors, they are a bit easier to store away and also come with a slightly higher capacity. The Animal models are also better at picking up every last dog hair, but the differences aren't huge.
If you have a pet, choosing an Animal model makes sense. You won't get a noticeably different vacuum cleaner. However, you will receive a set of attachments that are perfectly suited to cleaning areas where pets are present. The Tangle-free Turbine on the Animal models really does make a difference in collecting hair from carpets, which could help if you, members of your family, or visitors suffer from allergies.
Other things to look at include the noise rating of your Dyson (around 80db is acceptable) and the weight (look for vacuum cleaners that weigh in under 10kg). Not all Dysons meet these criteria, so keep your eyes peeled.
Although Dyson's vacuum cleaners are technologically radical and innovative, they aren't without their critics.
On the plus side, the cyclone technology that they use really does result in improved suction over longer periods of time. The Big Ball technology used in more recent varieties also makes them easier to position and carry than comparable rivals. New brush attachments are excellent at dealing with pet hair and carpet dust, and the air filters on Dysons clean more dust out of the air than other models.
All of these are big positives. However, it's also worth remembering the negatives. For one thing, Dysons aren't cheap. Many models cost more than £400 (unless you can find a discount deal).
Dysons are also generally noisier than machines from other manufacturers. Every generation of Dyson seems to get quieter, but if you are worried about disturbing infants or neighbours, they still aren't the best make to choose.
Finally, Dysons are often thought of as cumbersome and heavy. They may be easy to move around on the floor, but all the gadgetry inside their motors results in hefty machines that can be hard to lift.
Before you make a purchase, think about these things. Are you the kind of person who is sensitive to noise and doesn't want to disturb others? Do you have any back pain or other problems that make lifting heavy equipment difficult? Perhaps most important, is your bank account healthy enough to warrant the expense? If so, Dysons tend to be top of the range devices and will be the perfect vacuum cleaner to go for.
Although vacuum cleaners like the V8 are extremely popular, Dyson's Supersonic hair dryer has also been taking the beauty world by a storm recently, and many people will be wondering whether to take the plunge. At more than £300, it's not cheap, but is it worth it?
Given that you can buy cheap hair dryers for £20-30, you would think not. However, reputable consumer organisations have given the Supersonic complimentary reviews.
The major strength of the Supersonic is its heat sensor technology combined with its very focused, powerful air flow. The heat sensors are completely unique among currently available dryers, and allow the product to modulate its temperature to prevent hair damage.
Tests suggest that the Supersonic does provide a very focused, quick and hassle-free experience, so from a purely technical perspective, it's a market-leading hair dryer. However, with such a high price tag, many people will need to look for big discounts to make it affordable.
There are plenty of easy ways to get hold of Dyson vacuum cleaners, air treatment equipment and hair dryers. One way is to go straight to the company itself. You can head to the Dyson website and press the "Shop now" button on any product description before adding items to your basket as you would at any online store.
Alternatively, you can buy Dysons from hotukdeals merchants like Argos, Currys, John Lewis and Tesco. All of these high street retailers regularly offer Dyson discounts, so check their pages regularly to save money on your next vacuum. You can also purchase almost any model of Dyson from online sellers like eBay and Amazon, often at big discounts.
As with most major electronics retailers, Dyson periodically offers their products at reduced prices. They offer promotional deals around Black Friday and Cyber Monday and have a promotions page on their website which lists current deals.
With the high prices for new Dyson vacuum cleaners, it makes sense to check out any promotions and Dyson sales. If you need to replace an ageing vacuum or you want a next generation Supersonic hair dryer, bookmark the Dyson listings at hotukdeals and you won't miss the best Dyson deals.
